The demand for accessible and effective behavioral health and substance use disorder (SUD) care is soaring, making it harder for individuals to find treatment. Geographic barriers, limited resources, and the stigma associated with seeking help can prevent individuals from receiving the support they need.
Around 43% of U.S. adults that sought out SUD or mental health care in the past year did not receive it, making it clear more work is needed to expand services. Virtual care in SUD treatment, or telehealth provides a convenient and accessible way to connect with qualified providers and better engage clients.
“There’s never been more need, and that demand is growing every day. Providing access to care is really important. There are a lot of folks out there that don’t know where to go, what to do, and they’re afraid of making that first step,” stated Jill Wiedemann-West, CEO, People Incorporated.
Virtual Care in SUD Treatment: A Digital Solution to Accessibility Challenges
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has emphasized the benefit and importance of using telehealth services to further facilitate care. With a powerful digital front door and virtual care tools, individuals can connect with qualified providers from the comfort of their own homes. This is especially advantageous for those residing in rural areas or facing transportation challenges, as it eliminates the geographic barriers that often hinder access to care.
Virtual appointments can significantly alleviate the stigma associated with seeking mental health or SUD treatment. The discreet nature of these online sessions can encourage individuals who might otherwise hesitate to reach out due to fear of judgment or discrimination. Greater accessibility to mental health and SUD care can help individuals find help earlier in their journey, leading to improved treatment outcomes and long-term recovery.
Expanding Access to Specialized Care
Virtual care offers greater access to specialized treatment that clients may not otherwise be available in their local area. Through telehealth solutions, this can include a wide variety of additional treatment tools and supplementary services such as:
- Peer Support Groups: Virtual peer support groups offer a safe and welcoming space for individuals to connect with others who share similar experiences and receive support from their peers.
- Family Therapy: Work together with family members to address the impact of SUD on family relationships and dynamics.
- Holistic Therapies: Explore complementary therapies such as yoga, meditation, or acupuncture to support overall wellness.
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): Connect with providers who can prescribe medications to help manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Choosing the Right Virtual Care Partner for Your SUD Treatment Practice
Selecting the right virtual care partner is crucial for the success of your practice and quality of care for your clients. Some important key factors to consider are:
- Integration with Existing Systems: Ensure that the virtual care platform seamlessly integrates with your electronic health records (EHRs) and other systems to minimize disruption and ensure data continuity.
- User-Friendly Interface: Choose a platform that is intuitive and easy to use for both providers and clients, enhancing the overall experience.
- Scalability: Select a vendor that can accommodate your growing needs and client volume as you expand as a business.
- Comprehensive Features: Look for a platform that offers a range of features that meet your practice’s needs, including video conferencing, messaging, document sharing, and electronic prescribing, to meet the diverse needs of your clients.
- Technical Support: Ensure that the vendor provides reliable technical support to address any issues that may arise.
By carefully considering these factors and others determined by your practice, you can select a virtual care partner that will help you deliver exceptional client care regardless of physical location. In addition to these guidelines, our team of industry experts created a comprehensive EHR evaluation checklist that is vendor agnostic and free to download.
“The big differentiator we see going forward is an organization’s ability to use all of the technology tools that are available.” Monica Oss, CEO, OM
How Does Virtual Care Improve Access to SUD Treatment?
Convenience and Flexibility of Virtual Appointments for SUD Clients
The primary benefit of virtual care is increased accessibility. In addition to eliminating the need for travel, telehealth options offer several advantages for clients seeking care:
- Accessibility: Connect with providers from anywhere, anytime.
- Reduced Stigma: The privacy and convenience of virtual appointments can alleviate fears of stigma surrounding substance abuse.
- Flexibility: Schedule appointments at times that fit a client’s busy schedule.
- Enhanced Engagement: Personalized interventions and remote monitoring increase quality of care.
These benefits improve treatment adherence and outcomes for those seeking mental health or substance use support. If a client prefers in-person appointments, a digital front door provides value through secure messaging, easy scheduling, and a hub for digital resources shared by their providers. For younger clients who are already more familiar with using virtual communication in their daily lives, SAMHSA suggests providers rely on virtual care offerings to better engage that population, making it easier for them to get started on their mental health journeys.
“OnCall Virtual Care provides clients with access to care when transportation to their appointment isn’t available or doesn’t show up. It’s also beneficial for the client who may have to cancel an appointment due to other circumstances. They still have the option to make it virtually.” Nicole Lewis, Director of Quality Compliance, Southside Behavioral Health
Providers Expand Reach and Efficiency with Virtual Care Tools
Clinics often struggle to find new staff with the necessary credentials, which can often result in heavier workloads for everyone and reduce the number of clients that can be seen by the practice. By leveraging the appropriate virtual care technology, providers can:
- Access a Wider Talent Pool: Hire qualified providers from outside the local area to address workforce shortages.
- Increase Client Capacity: Serve more patients without increasing physical infrastructure.
- Improve Efficiency: Optimize administrative tasks and reduce overhead costs.
- Expand Reach & Flexibility: Serve clients outside your physical community and offer convenient appointment times.
- Improve Intervention Access: Bring together all necessary parties for a client intervention, regardless of their location.
These benefits can help providers address workforce shortages, improve access to care, and enhance client outcomes, ultimately ensuring that more individuals receive the mental health and substance use support they need. SAMHSA also offers a comprehensive guide to providers on how best to utilize telehealth within their practice.
“We haven’t been able to hire in-person staff that are licensed to provide our client’s services because of the workforce shortages, which makes providing access to care that much harder. OnCall Virtual care is so great, because now we can use remote staff to treat clients from home.” Nicole Lewis, Director of Quality Compliance, Southside Behavioral Health.
Empowering SUD and Behavioral Health Providers with Virtual Care Solutions
Virtual care is an absolute necessity for modern behavioral health and SUD agencies. Qualifacts’ comprehensive suite of solutions provides secure messaging, video session capabilities, electronic prescribing, and patient engagement tools that unlock the full potential of virtual care for behavioral health and SUD providers.
We invite you to learn more about how Qualifacts can help you transform your practice and improve access to behavioral health services. Explore the full potential of virtual care on our website.
“Agencies that leverage virtual care and patient portals for client engagement, education, and continuity of care unlock tremendous value from the technology.” Josh Schoeller, CEO of Qualifacts
